Flushing bell



March 24, 1959 c. L. BARRON FLUSHING BELL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1957 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 24, 1959 c. L. BARRON 2, ,8

FLUSHING BELL Filed Jan. 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 2,878,823 X I I FLUSHING BELL 1 Curtis L. Barron, Sacramento, Calif.

Application January 4, 1957, Serial No. 632,464

1 Claim. (Cl. 134-167) This invention relates to an improved means for flushing and cleaning out a concrete duct of the type embodied an my copending application Serial No. 595,667, filed July 3, 1956, now Patent No. 2,843,913, for Strata Flo Liquid Conveyor.

In the formation of the concrete conveyor or duct a ditch or channel which is U-shaped in transverse section is dug in the ground. The cap or top wall is formed by filling the U-shaped duct with dirt and then pouring concrete onto the dirt in the duct and extending over the upper edges of the duct. When the cap or top wall has set there is then presented the problem of removing the dirt in the duct. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a means whereby the dirt within the duct can be readily removed so as to thereby clear out the duct for the passage of water or other liquid.

Another object of this invention is to provide a duct clearing means which operates on the hydraulic principle and may be used at any desired point in the length of the duct.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 3 showing a flush bell constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly broken away showing the device in applied position with the conveyor or duct cap removed.

Fig. 5 is an outer end elevation of the device.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally a concrete conveyor or duct which is substan tially U-shaped in transverse section and is disposed in a channel 11 formed in the ground. The conveyor or duct 10 includes a horizontally disposed cap 12 which is also formed of concrete. As more specifically set forth in my copending application supra, when the cap 12 is formed the interior of the duct 10 is filled with dirt so as to thereby eliminate the use of any forms. In order, therefore, to provide a means whereby the dirt which is placed within the duct or conveyor 10 may be readily removed, I have provided a hydraulic nozzle 14 which is adapted to be connected by means of a pipe or flexible hose 15 to a source of water pressure supply. In order to provide a supporting means for the nozzle 14 and to provide for the lateral projection of the water and the loosened dirt which at this time is in the form of mud,

2,878,823 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 ICC I have provided a closure plate 16 which has an outer edge of susbtantially U-shape to snugly fit within the interior of the duct 10. The plate 16 may be formed of rubber or other relatively flexible material and a 'metal frame bar 17 is preferably embodied in the outer side of the plate 16 being also secured by fastening means; 18. The reinforcing member 17 also includes an upper horizontal reinforcing bar 19, as shown in Fig. 3.

The plate 16 is formed with a centrally disposed opening 20 through which the nozzle 14 extends and the plate 16 has secured to the inner side thereof a cylindrical bushing 21. The bushing 21 has a base plate 22 which is fixed by fastening means 23 to the inner side plate 16. The bushing 21 which is preferably formed of rubber includes a rounded or dome-shaped inner end 24 through which the nozzle 14 is extended. The bushing 21 also includes an inner reinforced rib 25 which engages about the nozzle 14. The plate 16 is provided in the upper portion thereof with an exhaust opening 26 and an upwardly and laterally projecting nipple 27 extends from the outer side of plate 16 and communicates at the lower end thereof with opening 26. The nipple 27 is extended upwardly and laterally of the duct 10 and if desired an extension pipe may be connected with nipple 27 so as to carry off the mud and water which is being exhausted therethrough.

The plate 16 is firmly secured within the duct 10 by means of a substantially U-shaped member 28 having a horizontal connecting bar 29 at the upper end thereof. The U-shaped member 28 is preferably formed of metal or other rigid material and is adapted to loosely engage within the interior of duct 10. A plurality of outwardly projecting clamping dogs 30 are rockably mounted on pivot member 31 carried by the U-shaped member 28 and the dogs 30 extend rearwardly through notches or openings 32 formed in the U-shaped frame member 28. The dogs 32 are longitudinally curved in configuration with an outwardly directed bill 33 which is adapted to tightly bite into the duct or conveyor 10. Each dog 30 is provided with a longitudinally curved lever 34 having a bifurcated inner end 35. A nut 36 is disposed between the bifurcations 35 and is pivotally mounted on pivot members 37 extending through the bifurcations 35. The claw or clamping member adjusting bolt 38 is threaded through each nut 36 and extends forwardly through an opening 39 formed in the plate 16. Each bolt 38 is provided with an outer head 40 adapted to be engaged by a wrench or the like, whereby bolt 38 may be rotated through clamping or released position. The plate 16 has secured thereto by fastening member 41 a pair of angle members 42 which are disposed on the inner side of plate 16 and each angle member 42 has an upper side disposed in confronting position to the lower surface of cap 12. The angle members 42 have elongated openings 43 through which the bolts 41 extend so that the angle members 42 may be pushed outwardly to substantially contacting position with respect to the bottom of cap 12. These angle members 42 provide a means whereby the plate 16 will be held against tilting when pressure is exerted thereagainst by reason of the water pressure being discharged from nozzle 14.

In the use and operation of this flushing device plate 16 is extended into the conveyor or duct 10 at one end thereof or at a point intermediate the ends where an opening is provided in the cap 12. The plate 16 is further secured against movement within the duct 10 by adjusting of bolts 38 which will move claws 30 to clamping position. With plate 16 in tight position within the duct 10 and with nipple or discharge member 27 projecting laterally of the conveyor or duct, hydraulic nozzle 14 may be extended through plate 16 and through bushing 21. Water pressure discharged from nozzle 14 will cause the dirt in the duct 10 to become fluent or mud so that the water pressure will force the mud out through the outlet opening 26 and laterally through the discharge nipple 27. V V

What is claimed. is: w

A concrete duct flushing means comprising a nozzle for connection with a source of water pressuresupply, an apertured plate engageable in said duct, a U-shaped clamp supporting frame spaced from'said plate and projecting interiorly of said duct, a plurality of clamping members carried by said frame, screw means projecting through said plate and threadedly connected with said clamping members, means exterior of said plate for rotating said screw member for pivoting said clamping members to clamping or released position for clamping said plate in said duct, a flexible nozzle supporting bushing carried by said plate for supporting said nozzle in a position projecting partly through said aperture in said plate, and a tubular discharge member connected at one end with said plate and extending laterally therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,189 Mern Dec. 7, 1897 674,415 Hough May 21, 1901 1,026,412 Stone May 14, 1912 1,504,147 Rudolph Aug. 5, 1924 2,248,238 Hooper July 8, 1941 

